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David Cameron is trusted more than the other party leaders on three of the top five issues that voters say are important to them, an exclusive poll reveals today.

New research by Ipsos MORI found the Tory leader is far ahead on the economy, which research shows is the issue the public regards as paramount.

He is also ahead on immigration and crime, the third and fifth most salient issues on Ipsos MORI’s issues index.

Ed Miliband has a very narrow lead on being trusted to tackle unemployment, the second most important issue, and a big lead on running the NHS, which comes fourth in the public’s priorities.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was joint-third on the economy, and third on the NHS, but trailed in last place on immigration, crime and unemployment.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage came a close second to Mr Cameron on immigration, overtaking Mr Miliband.

Mr Cameron is seen as the most capable party leader of the four - but also as the most out of touch with ordinary people.

Overall the findings will comfort allies of Mr Cameron.

On the economy, the 37 per cent who trust him most is bigger than the numbers for all the other three leaders added together. He was also trusted most by 37 per cent for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, which was equivalent to the others’ shares added together.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI said: “With rising economic optimism, David Cameron’s clear lead on the number one issue of the economy stands out (even though his party and the Coalition more broadly aren’t free of challenges in this area), while Ed Miliband does best on Labour’s traditional strengths in public services and unemployment.”

The economy and law and order were both traditional Tory issues that Tony Blair successfully targeted in New Labour’s most successful years. Today’s survey provides little evidence that Mr Miliband is making the same inroads. He was most trusted by just 23 per cent on the economy and 20 per cent on crime.

Britons have regained a little bit of their lost faith in the Coalition since a poll last July, despite arguments in government over Lords reform, tax, and boundary changes.

By around two-to-one margins they think the government is not dealing with the economic crisis effectively (61 per cent to 32) nor working as a united team (65-28). Although slightly improved since last summer, those figures contrast sharply with the warm optimism on both questions when the Coalition was first formed in May 2010, when 63 per cent thought it was a united team.

Nearly half now think the Coalition is providing stable government. And a majority (55 per cent) think it will last right through to the 2015 election.

Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,009 adults across GB by telephone from May 11 to 13. Data are weighted.